Because every screen shows colour slightly differently, and most software and devices do not correct for it. Screens differ in colour gamut, brightness, white point and calibration, and if a photo is shown without colour management, the same file is stretched or squeezed to each screen's own colours. A wide-gamut monitor makes sRGB photos look oversaturated; a cheap laptop panel makes them look dull; phones often boost colours on purpose. The fix is a consistent workflow: a monitor that can display your target colour space accurately, calibration, colour-managed software and the correct export profile. A professional monitor such as the ASUS ProArt PA279CRV helps by offering accurate sRGB, Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 presets and storing calibration in the monitor itself. It costs S$779 at SourceIT (listed 30 Oct 2026).
Why does the same photo look different?
| Cause | What happens |
|---|---|
| Different gamuts | A wide-gamut screen shows sRGB colours too saturated unless it is restricted; a narrow-gamut screen cannot show some colours at all |
| No colour management | Apps that ignore the image's embedded profile send colours straight to the screen without adjustment |
| Uncalibrated displays | White point, gamma and brightness drift from the standard, tinting or darkening images |
| Brightness | Editing on a very bright screen leads to prints and exports that look too dark |
| Device processing | Phones and TVs often apply vivid modes or automatic adjustments |
| Wrong export profile | Uploading an Adobe RGB or P3 file where the destination assumes sRGB changes its colours |
Based on colour management guidance from BenQ, Microsoft and published monitor reviews cited below.
What does a real-world example look like?
Display Ninja's review of the ProArt PA279CRV found that its Native mode does not clamp the gamut, so sRGB content appears oversaturated; switching to the sRGB preset or using colour-managed software fixes it. KitGuru found an MSI QD-OLED gaming monitor measured ΔE 4.88 against sRGB in its default mode, falling to about 1.2 in its sRGB mode. In both cases, the hardware was capable; the setting decided what you saw. On Windows, Microsoft's Auto Color Management, introduced in Windows 11 22H2, can map unmanaged apps into sRGB system-wide, but it needs supported graphics hardware and must be enabled.
Consistent colour is not a monitor feature. It is a chain, and the monitor is only the most visible link.
How does ASUS ProArt help?
- Accurate presets for each colour space. Display Ninja measured the PA279CRV's Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 presets at an average ΔE of 0.58 out of the box, and 99.6% sRGB coverage.
- Factory verification. ProArt models such as the PA279CRV are Calman Verified to an average colour difference below ΔE 2.
- Hardware calibration that travels with the monitor. ASUS's free ProArt Calibration software, for Mac and Windows, stores profiles in the monitor's own processor, so the calibrated result follows the display between computers. It supports X-Rite, Datacolor and Klein meters, and ASUS launched its own ProArt CaliContrO colorimeter in 2026.
- Self-calibrating models at the high end. The ProArt PA32UCXR has a built-in motorised colorimeter that can recalibrate on a schedule.
A consistent colour workflow in six steps
- Choose your target. sRGB for web and social, Adobe RGB for print, DCI-P3 for video and Apple devices. See 99% DCI-P3 Sounds Impressive. But Does Your Work Actually Need It?
- Set the monitor to match, using its preset for that colour space rather than a vivid or native mode.
- Calibrate with a colorimeter, such as the Datacolor SpyderExpress (launched at US$119) or Calibrite Display Plus HL (US$339). Recalibrate periodically.
- Use colour-managed software such as Photoshop or Lightroom, and on Windows check that automatic colour management is on.
- Edit at a sensible brightness, lower for print work than for screens.
- Export with the right profile, usually sRGB for the web, and soft-proof before printing.
Will clients still see something different?
Often, yes, because you cannot calibrate their screens. What a calibrated workflow guarantees is that your file is correct, so differences come from their device, not your work. Teams can go further by standardising on calibrated monitors so designers, retouchers and reviewers see the same thing. Photographers who also game can read Can a Gaming Monitor Be Used for Professional Photo Editing?
Buying in Singapore
SourceIT supplies the ASUS ProArt PA279CRV (S$779), ProArt PA278CV (S$487), ProArt PA329CRV (S$1,120) and, for built-in calibration, the BenQ PD2770U (S$2,999), with local warranty and a GST invoice. Prices listed 30 Oct 2026. Browse the ASUS monitor collection. For a quotation, use Request for Quotation on the product page, call (65) 6978 3502, email Sales@sourceit.com.sg or use our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my photos look different on my phone and my monitor? Screens differ in gamut, brightness and calibration, and phones often apply vivid colour processing. Without colour management, the same file appears differently on each.
Why do photos look oversaturated on a wide-gamut monitor? Wide-gamut panels stretch sRGB content unless the monitor's sRGB mode or colour-managed software restricts the colours.
Does a calibrated monitor guarantee clients see the same colours? No. It ensures your file is correct; clients' uncalibrated screens may still show it differently.
What is hardware calibration? Calibration that adjusts the monitor's own internal settings rather than the graphics card's output. ASUS ProArt Calibration stores profiles in the monitor itself.
Which ASUS ProArt monitor suits photographers? The PA279CRV covers about 98% Adobe RGB and 99.6% sRGB as measured by Display Ninja, and costs S$779 at SourceIT (30 Oct 2026).
SourceIT Approved
Researched and verified by the SourceIT team for Singapore buyers.
